Ancient European Road Trip Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dover

On the Dour estuary and the closest point to the European continent, Portus Dubris (or Dubris) was the ideal location for a cross-channel port for the Romans. Present-day Dover remains a major English Channel ferry port. The remains of two Roman-era lighthouses exist, one now forming part of a bell tower.

The fish reference was to Dover sole, which is the common sole (Solea solea) found in Europe or the north-eastern Pacific flatfish (Microstomus pacificus).

Answer: Le Mans

Roman-era Vindinium was also known as Civitus Cenomanorum (city of the Cenomani), from which the modern name is derived. The Gallo-Roman city walls are a well-preserved remnant from this era.

The reference to motor racing in the question was to the 24-hour sports car endurance race which has been held at Le Mans since 1923.

Answer: Lyon

Lugdunum was, after Rome, the most important city in the western part of the Roman Empire for 300 years. The Roman name possibly comes from the Celtic god of light and the word for a hill-fort. The Sanctuary of the Three Gauls was the focal point of the Imperial cult complex at Lugdunum, being the first and most important provincial one in the West. The Imperial cult was a move away from a republican system to, in effect, a monarchy. Under the cult, emperors and some family members were seen as having divinely-sanctioned authority to rule.

The Theatre of Fourvière is mainly a tourist site these days although it is periodically used for festivals.

Sitting between the Beaujolais and Burgundy wine-growing areas to the north and the Côtes du Rhône vineyards to the south, the Beaujolais is a popular Lyonnaise table wine.

Answer: Arles

The Barbegal aqueduct was built to supply water to Arles. It also supplied water to the mill complex at Barbegal, which consisted of two sets of eight water wheels descending the hillside in parallel. Romans are not normally associated with the use of technology, however this is an early example of the industrial application of water power. It was used to make an estimated 4.5 tonnes of flour per day.

Vincent van Gogh was a one-time resident in Arles, producing over 180 of his paintings there including many of his best known works.

Answer: Turin

The Mole Antonelliana, taking its name after its 19th century architect, is claimed to be the world's tallest museum. The Palatine Gate is another Roman remnant, one of the best-preserved first century BC gateways still standing. It provided access to the north of the city.

The hints in the question are for the River Po (po-faced), the soccer team Juventus which is based in Turin and the Shroud of Turin. The River Po and three of its tributaries pass through the city.

Answer: Verona

Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, lies between Brescia and Verona. The Grottoes of Catullus, on the Sirmione penisula of Lake Garda, are the ruins of the largest and most complete Roman villa in northern Italy. Catullus was a Roman poet from the first century BC who is still read today. It is not clear whether he owned this villa or just stayed there.

The Verona Arena is a first century Roman amphitheatre still in use in the 21st century, partially due to its great acoustic properties. It is known for its large-scale opera performances with seating for 15,000 people and up to six outdoor performances per year.

As for the clue, Shakespeare's "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" is set in Verona, as are his plays "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Taming of the Shrew".

Answer: Split

Starting off as the Greek colony of Aspalathos during the fourth century BC, the Roman emperor Diocletian built his palace here in 305 BC. With the sack of nearby Salona, refugees moved into the fortified palace and the city took over as the regional capital around 650. Split, as it is now called, is the second-largest city in Croatia.

The Greeks named their colony after the spiny broom (Calicotome spinosa) which is found locally. The name evolved via the Romans into Spalato, however this gave way in the late 19th century to the Serbo-Croat 'Split' or 'Spljet'. 'Split' was officially adopted after World War I and 'banana split' is the name of the ice cream dessert in the question.

Answer: Sofia

The Church of St George is the earliest building standing in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital. Built by the Romans in the fourth century, it became an Early Christian church before a spell as a mosque when part of the Ottoman Empire. The Amphitheatre of Serdica was accidentally discovered in 2004 in the centre of Sofia, lying on top of an old Roman theatre. It presence was hinted at by a stone tablet, possibly an advert, unearthed in 1919.

Sophiology is both a philosophical and religious concept regarding wisdom, derived from the Greek word 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. 'Philosophy' itself means 'love of wisdom' and the Bulgarian capital can trace its current name to the Saint Sofia Church (or Holy Sofia Church), its second oldest church and named for the Christian concept of Holy Wisdom (or Hagia Sophia). Serdica was the ancient Greek and Roman name for the settlement.

Answer: Varna

The lev is the currency of Bulgaria and the Hindu caste system consists of four varna (or ranks). Varna, the city, is Bulgaria's largest Black Sea resort with a long history including Thracian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods. It was known as Odessos during Greek times. The name Varna came with the Slavic conquest in the sixth century.

Varna is the site of well-preserved Roman baths (or thermae) built during the second century. The Necropolis is considerably older than that with graves dating to 4,500 BC. The year 1972 saw the chance discovery of large amounts of old prehistoric gold in these graves.

Answer: Istanbul

One of the largest cities in Europe and the Middle East, Istanbul is generally considered to have its roots in the Greek colony of Byzantium, founded around 660 BC. Legend tells how the Oracle of Delphi told the Greek Byzas to found his new city "opposite the blind". When he came to the colony of Chalcedon on the Bosphorus, he realised they'd overlooked a much better location on the European side of the straits and so he founded his city there, naming it after himself.

Hagia Sophia (meaning 'Holy Wisdom') was the third church built during the Byzantine Empire on that site. The first two were destroyed by fire and the current church, built during the sixth century, has also suffered damage from fire and earthquakes. For nearly a thousand years it was the world's largest cathedral. It has also had 500 years as a mosque but since 1935 has been a museum. Topkapi Palace was built during the 15th century and housed Sultans of the Ottoman Empire for around 400 years. It was turned into a museum in 1924.

According to some sources, Istanbul was Ian Fleming's favourite city and his 1957 novel 'From Russia, with Love' was set there. In fact the Bond movies 'From Russia with Love', 'Skyfall' and 'The World is not Enough' all use Istanbul as a backdrop. Dan Brown sets his 2013 novel 'Inferno' in Istanbul as well, with the 1,500 year old church Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace both featuring in it.